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Brand new centre pairing for Ireland?

Gordon D’Arcy’s return from a groin injury may see Robbie Henshaw and Jared Payne picked together in the centre for Ireland.

Gordon D’Arcy’s return from a groin injury may see Robbie Henshaw and Jared Payne picked together in the centre for Ireland.

Henshaw and Payne have been earmarked as the potential successors to Brian O’Driscoll’s 13 shirt, but the two rivals may now both start against South Africa in Dublin this Saturday.

The Irish Independent report that head coach Joe Schmidt has been impressed with the physical pair in training, as D’Arcy worked his way back to fitness after sustaining an injury in the Champions Cup for Leinster against Castres.

The move would be a surprise ahead of Saturday’s Test as Ireland look to the future.

Munster’s Felix Jones is expected to be named on the bench, while Ulster’s Rory Best is battling with a calf issue.